A woman whose sister was initially taken hostage, left, reacts to the standoff at a house on the corner of Grace Street and Vanderwerken Avenue on Monday, Sept. 1, 2014, Waterford, N.Y. (Cindy Schultz / Times Union)

State Police use an armored vehicle during a standoff with a man in the second floor of a house on the corner of Grace Street and Vanderwerken Avenue, center, on Monday, Sept. 1, 2014, Waterford, N.Y. (Cindy Schultz / Times Union)

State Police use an armored vehicle during a standoff with a man in...

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Saratoga County Sheriff officer runs into position during a standoff at at house on the corner of Grace Street and Vanderwerken Avenue on Monday, Sept. 1, 2014, Waterford, N.Y. (Cindy Schultz / Times Union)

State Police help a downstairs neighbor evacuate during a standoff at at house on the corner of Grace Street and Vanderwerken Avenue on Monday, Sept. 1, 2014, Waterford, N.Y. (Cindy Schultz / Times Union)

Sarah Grant was returning from shopping with her daughters Monday when she saw armed police officers and was told she couldn't return to her Waterford residence.

Her apartment at 63 Grace St., along with those of surrounding neighbors, had been evacuated during a standoff that lasted from late Monday into early Tuesday when a man holed himself up in the second-floor apartment above Grant's.

"It was extremely scary not to know what was going on in our home," Grant said.

The man, Rashann Hunt, 36, of Cohoes, was later taken into custody with no injuries and charged with burglary, criminal contempt and menacing with a weapon, all felonies.

The incident stemmed from a Sunday assault.

Authorities said the victim of an assault went to the Waterford Police Department at about 11 p.m. saying Hunt had entered her Grace Street apartment, punched and choked her and pulled her hair while armed with a knife.

Hunt allegedly kept her in the apartment from 1 to 11 p.m., at which time she and her 7-year-old daughter were able to flee.

When police responded, Hunt had already left the apartment, only to return on a motorcycle a few minutes later.

Police tried to stop him and he fled on foot. A Rensselaer County Sheriff's K-9 Unit joined the chase but was unable to locate him.

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On Monday, Keith Francis, Grant's boyfriend, had been home in the apartment below when the 7-year-old girl came running down crying and asking for help, said Grant, who is friends with the victim.

Grant had heard arguments before coming from the apartment above.

"Everybody argues, but not like that," she said of the incident.

Hunt currently is involved in an open case in Rensselaer County involving similar charges with the same victim, said Acting District Attorney Arthur Glass Jr. The case is expected to go before a grand jury.

Francis and the 7-year-old called 911 and she told police: "Mommy and Daddy are hurting each other."

Waterford police arrived to find Hunt, who pointed a handgun at them. Officer Craig Fifield dove for cover, breaking his arm and suffering other injuries.

The woman was able to flee with serious injuries, particularly to her face, after being pistol-whipped, police said. She was taken to Albany Medical Center Hospital and treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

Hunt then barricaded himself inside the apartment.

Francis and the girl were evacuated along with many of the neighbors, and taken to the Waterford Wesleyan Church at 75 Grace St. where they were met by Grant and her daughters.

On Monday night, dozens of residents watched the scene for hours in disbelief as State Police wearing flak jackets and armed with shotguns stood behind porches and along the street.

Cohoes police and the Saratoga County Sheriff's Department also responded to the scene.

Waterford officers were familiar with Hunt, who had been arrested by local police several times in the past, which aided the negotiation process, said Waterford Public Safety Commissioner John Tanchak.